Action plan to tackle water issue soon

ST CORRESPONDENT

Monday, 19 November 2018

Best measures will be taken to handle drought in district, says District Collector Naval Kishore Ram

PUNE: District Collector Naval Kishore Ram on Sunday held a meeting with local officials and politicians to prepare an action plan to tackle the water issue due to drought situation in some talukas of Pune district. He said the administration will take best measures to handle the issue of water shortage.

The district administration will also submit a ground report about the drought status in Pune district. Earlier, the State government had declared 10 talukas of the district as drought-prone after which three talukas were removed from the category. Now talukas like Ambegaon, Baramati, Daund, Indapur, Purandar, Shirur and Velha are facing water shortage. The State government on Wednesday declared ‘severe drought’ in 112 talukas. Besides, 39 talukas were placed under ‘medium drought’ category, taking the total tally to 151.

Ram said they will take frequent reviews of status of drinking water, fodder availability and other issues. “Once our officials inform us of water shortage we will provide water tankers. If officials are found with lax behavior then action will be taken against them. Priority will be given to drinking water,” added Ram.

As per the water scarcity report of Groundwater Survey and Development Agency (GSDA), nearly 71 per cent of the state showed a drop of more than a metre in groundwater level in September, compared to a five-year average. As per GSDA data in Pune district, in 577 villages, groundwater has depleted by more than a metre and in 152 villages, the groundwater has depleted by more than three metres compared to a five-year average.